HIV rate among active Ghanaian youth increases by 0.5% in 2017
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed that, the prevalence rate of HIV has increased by 0.5% among the active adolescent reproductive class of the Ghanaian population at the end of 2017.
This was made known during the observation of World Aids Day in Bolgatanga by the Upper East Regional Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr. Josephat Nyuzaghl.
The first day of December every year since 1988, is a day dedicated to raising awareness of AIDS endemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and also to mourn remember those who have died of the condition.
This year’s World AIDS Day was on the theme, “Know Your Status”, with a 90-90-90 Campaign which aims at diagnosing 90 percent of all HIV positive persons, provide anti-retroviral therapy for 90 percent of those diagnosed and achieve a viral suppression for 90 percent in those being treated, by the year 2020.
Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, it is estimated that about 36.9 million people are living with HIV. It is also said that, 94,000 deaths have recorded as at the end of 2017.
An estimated 0.8 percent of adults aged between 15-49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions.
The epidemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the African region, which Ghana is part, remains most severely affected, with nearly 1 out of every two–thirds of people living with HIV worldwide.
Addressing a gathering of stakeholders at a durbar in Bolgatanga, Dr. Josephat Nyuzaghl said: “… the worrying side is that, Ghana’s HIV response is the continuous increase in HIV prevalence amongst the youth (15-24) who are future leaders of this country from 1 percent in 2016 to 1.5 percent in 2017, according to the 2017 HIV sentinel survey”.
He has however indicated that, the Ghana Health Service in the Upper East Region over the years, has made significant progress in ensuring access to HIV services and it’s on the path to achieving both the global and country sub-themes for this year’s celebration.
“The region has been able to achieve at target of reduce its HIV prevalence over the past ten years from 2.5 percent in 2007 to 1.3 in 2017. We have been able to attain universal district ART clinic establishment coverage, by increasing the number of ART Clinics from 9 in 2014 to 26 in 2018. Every district in Upper East can now provide HIV care, treatment and support without referring clients to other districts, as we used to be done in the past.” He explained
Despite these achievements, Dr. Nyuzaghl said, the region was confronted with challenges which include, limited number of midwives, transportation for outreach programmes, stigma and discrimination. He therefore called on stakeholders to renew their commitments in supporting the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to offer comprehensive HIV and AIDS care to affected person in the country.
Meanwhile, the network of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (NAP+ Ghana) expressed appreciation to the Ghana AIDS Commission and its donors for the technical and legal support by influencing the Act 938 2016 to Safeguard the rights of persons living with HIV.
“We acknowledge the efforts the National AIDS Control Programme (NAP) Ghana and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), for the efforts in expanding treatment to the district and community levels for PLHIV to easily access. We also commend them on the test and treat policy. Our hope is that, the Health system is strengthened to enable people to continue to know their HIV status, and the infected have access to early treatment, as a result of the test and treat policy to help PLHIV suppress the viral load at the early stage of infection.” The Network in a statement stated.
Source: a1radioonline.com / Samuel Mbura / Ghana
